AI in UK Healthcare: How AI-Powered Physiotherapy Clinics Are Cutting NHS Wait Times

In 2025, the UK is witnessing a major shift in how musculoskeletal (MSK) care is delivered, thanks to the introduction of AI-powered physiotherapy clinics. Backed by the NHS and using Flok Health, this new model of care is already demonstrating substantial benefits for patients and healthcare systems.

NHS-Backed AI Clinics Now Active

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
In early 2025, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust became the first in England to pilot an AI-led physiotherapy clinic.
Delivered through Flok Health, this digital clinic supports patients with MSK issues like back pain, joint stiffness, and arthritis.

Key results after just 12 weeks:

• Wait times reduced by 44% for all MSK patients
• 55% drop in back pain-specific wait times
• Over 98% of patients completed treatment fully through the AI platform
• Nearly 80% of patients rated the service as equivalent to or better than traditional care

NHS Lothian, Scotland
NHS Lothian launched a region-wide deployment of Flok Health across all GP practices, covering over 1 million residents.
Patients can self-refer or be referred by GPs to access personalised physiotherapy plans via the platform.

Outcomes include:

• 86% of patients reported symptom improvement
• 100% said the service was equal to or better than in-person physiotherapy

How Does the AI Clinic Work?

Flok Health’s AI physiotherapy system is built on machine learning, computer vision, and clinical data. Here’s how the service functions:

1. Digital Assessment – Patients complete a symptom and mobility assessment via app or web.
2. Tailored Treatment Plan – AI generates a personalised exercise programme based on clinical guidelines.
3. Ongoing Support – Patients complete exercises at home with daily check-ins and video-based movement guidance.
4. Clinician Oversight – Physiotherapists review cases where the AI flags potential red flags or lack of progress.

This system supports hybrid care, not full automation, clinicians remain integral to the process.

Why Is This Significant?

The rollout of AI clinics addresses several long-standing challenges in MSK care:

Problem	AI Solution
Long NHS waiting times	AI enables immediate assessment and treatment
Clinician shortages	Routine cases managed digitally, freeing up clinicians
Lack of access in rural areas	Entire service is delivered remotely
Cost inefficiencies	Reduced need for in-person sessions lowers costs

According to Flok Health and participating trusts, the pilot has freed up over 850 clinician-hours per month — time that can be reallocated to complex or urgent cases.

What Do Experts Say?

The success of these AI clinics has gained national attention. However, professional bodies like the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) also emphasize the need for:

• Clinical safety and governance
• Accessibility for digitally excluded patients
• Clear referral pathways for complex conditions

The AI system is CQC-approved and registered as a Class I medical device under MHRA regulations, which strengthens its legitimacy and safety assurance.

Where Can You Access the AI Physiotherapy Clinics?

Region	Status	Provider	Access
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (England)	NHS pilot (completed)	Flok Health	NHS self-referral or GP
Lothian (Scotland)	NHS region-wide rollout	Flok Health	Available via GP registration

Other NHS regions are reportedly preparing to adopt similar digital MSK services following these successful pilots.

Final Thoughts

AI in healthcare is no longer a concept for the future, it’s being deployed now, delivering measurable improvements in access, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

The UK’s AI-powered physiotherapy clinics are an early but powerful example of how digital tools can complement human expertise to tackle long-standing system pressures.

As more NHS trusts explore digital pathways, AI will likely become a permanent fixture in the healthcare ecosystem, one that helps scale care, not replace it.